Do your kids love camping? This easy popsicle stick campfire craft is one of our summer craft ideas for kids. It is a simple and affordable project they can create at home or school.
In about 30 minutes, you can transform cardstock paper and craft sticks into an adorable little campfire.
This craft is ideal for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary age children; however, younger children may need some assistance to complete this project.
Working on a craft provides an excellent opportunity to discuss topics with younger children. Whether talking about camping or fire safety, this campfire craft may help spark a conversation.
More Summer Crafts for Kids
- Coffee Filter Campfire Craft
- Coffee Filter Bumble Bee
- Coffee Filter Sunflower
- Handprint Sun Paper Plate Craft
Craft Stick Camping Fire Craft
This quick and easy popsicle stick campfire uses common craft supplies you may already have on hand and can be completed in less than 30 minutes (dry times may vary).
You can create this craft for kids at home, at a school, or at summer camp. It’s the perfect extension activity to work on after reading some of these children’s books about camping. It’s also a fun craft activity to include in:
- a camping themed art center
- a camping unit study
- letter C crafts
- camping or outdoorsy themed birthday party
- lessons about fire safety
It is also a fine motor activity for preschool and kindergarten children that provides painting, tracing, cutting, and gluing practice.
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Younger children may need assistance with cutting out the fire shapes and using a glue gun. Older children may be able to complete this craft with minimal assistance.
I recommend using a hot glue gun because it makes the craft more durable, especially if used as a decoration.
However, if you are making these with younger children, you may want to use tacky craft glue (that’s my favorite one to use) instead. It will need additional drying time.
Campfire Popsicle Stick Craft Supplies
- Campfire Popsicle Stick Craft Template PDF File #161 (our free printables are available in the free printable resource library – get the password by filling out the form at the bottom of this post)
- 3 Jumbo Popsicle Craft Sticks
- Colored Cardstock Paper in Red, Orange, Yellow, and Pink
- 2 Googly Eyes
- Acrylic Craft Paint in Dark Brown and Tan
- Black Washable Marker
- Paintbrush
- Glue Stick
- Low Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (or tacky craft glue)
- Scissors
- Pencil
How to Make a Campfire Popsicle Stick Craft
Start by gathering all of the supplies. Download, print and cut out the campfire popsicle stick craft template (file 161 in our free printable resource library).
Using scissors, cut both rounded ends from only one jumbo craft stick. Then cut one rounded end from two jumbo craft sticks. (Please note: the logs will still look great if you skip cutting the ends off.)
Paint the jumbo craft sticks with a dark brown base coat. These will be the campfire logs. Let them dry and apply a second coat of paint, if necessary.
Once the log sticks are dry, use tan (or light brown) to paint circles on the remaining two rounded ends of the two jumbo craft sticks. Let them dry and apply a second coat if needed.
Please note: If you do not want to use paint, you can color the popsicle sticks using washable markers, crayons, or even colored pencils instead.
Draw random lines along the “logs” with a black marker to make it look like tree bark. Draw a spiral circle over the tan/light brown ends to look like tree rings.
Now, stack the three craft stick logs on top of each other in a criss cross pattern and glue them in place with a glue gun. You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry.
Trace the largest flame template onto the red cardstock. Trace the middle flame template onto the orange cardstock and trace the smallest flame template onto the yellow paper.
Cut out all three of the flame shapes.
Then layer the campfire flames on top of each other from largest in the back to smallest in the front. Use a glue stick to secure the layers in place.
Next, flip the campfire logs over and attach the flames to the top edge of the unpainted back with a glue gun.
If you do not wish to give the fire an adorable kawaii face, stop here and the project is complete.
To make the cute face, trace the small circle cheek templates onto pink cardstock and cut them out.
Glue the pink cheeks on either side of the yellow flame with a glue stick. Then draw a smile on the campfire flame’s face from cheek to cheek with a black marker.
Finally, attach two large googly eyes to the campfire flame. Now you have a cute little campfire!
More Summer Activities for Kids
More Popsicle Stick Crafts for Kids:
- Popsicle Stick Rainbow
- Dad Rocks Popsicle Stick Box
- Turkey Popsicle Stick Craft
- Monster Popsicle Stick Bookmarks
- Popsicle Stick Color Match Game
- Apple Core Popsicle Stick Craft
Popsicle Stick Campfire Craft
Make this fun and easy campfire popsicle stick craft for summer. It is perfect for kids of all ages. With a few simple materials, create a cute little campfire!
Materials
- Campfire Popsicle Stick Craft Template PDF File #161 (available in the free printable resource library)
- 3 Jumbo Popsicle Craft Sticks
- Cardstock Paper in Red, Orange, Yellow, and Pink
- 2 Googly Eyes
- Acrylic Craft Paint in Dark Brown and Tan
- Black Washable Marker
Tools
- Paintbrush
- Glue Stick
- Low Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (or tacky craft glue)
- Scissors
- Pencil
Instructions
- Start by gathering all of the supplies. Download, print and cut out the campfire popsicle stick craft template (file 161 in our free printable resource library).
- Using scissors, cut both rounded ends from only one jumbo craft stick. Then cut one rounded end from two jumbo craft sticks. (Please note: the logs will still look great if you skip cutting the ends off.)
- Paint the jumbo craft sticks with a dark brown base coat. These will be the campfire logs. Let them dry and apply a second coat of paint, if necessary.
- Once the log sticks are dry, use tan (or light brown) to paint circles on the remaining two rounded ends of the two jumbo craft sticks. Let them dry and apply a second coat if needed.
- Draw random lines along the “logs” with a black marker to make it look like tree bark. Draw a spiral circle over the tan/light brown ends to look like tree rings.
- Now, stack the three craft stick logs on top of each other in a criss cross pattern and glue them in place with a glue gun. You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry.
- Trace the largest flame template onto the red cardstock. Trace the middle flame template onto the orange cardstock and trace the smallest flame template onto the yellow paper.
- Cut out all three of the flame shapes.
- Then layer the campfire flames on top of each other from largest in the back to smallest in the front. Use a glue stick to secure the layers in place.
- Next, flip the campfire logs over and attach the flames to the top edge of the unpainted back with a glue gun.
- If you do not wish to give the fire an adorable kawaii face, stop here and the project is complete.
- To make the cute face, trace the small circle cheek templates onto pink cardstock and cut them out.
- Glue the pink cheeks on either side of the yellow flame with a glue stick. Then draw a smile on the campfire flame’s face from cheek to cheek with a black marker.
- Finally, attach two large googly eyes to the campfire flame. Now you have a cute little campfire!
Notes
If you do not want to use paint, you can color the popsicle sticks using washable markers, crayons, or even colored pencils instead.
You may skip cutting the ends off of the craft sticks.
You may use craft glue instead of a hot glue gun, but there will be additional drying time.